Magnetic support



Feb. 4, 1964 WI); 6 mum, 5

him.

ERGO 2 Uih. "WWI ATTY,

United States Patent 3,129,216 IVTAGNETEt: EUPPQRT Francis JohnMeinhardt, Edgerton, Wis, assiguor to The Parke Fen (Iompnny,Eanesville, W s, a corporation or Wisconsin Nov. in, 1958, er. No.773,635 7 tllaims. (Cl. l2tP--lti8) This invention relates to devicesfor magnetically supporting desk set writing instrument receptacles.

The invention is concerned particularly with devices for accommodating apen-holding (or pencil-holding) receptacle provided with a sphere orball-like pivot member of paramagnetic material which is seated andmagnetically held in a complementary concavity or socket so that thereceptacle may be rotated about its pivotal center and thereby adjustedto various angular positions and/or removed from the socket.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide such a device havinga much lower total height than has been possible heretofore.

It is another object to provide a device of this nature which is easy toassemble and disassemble.

It is still another object to provide a device requiring no cement tohold the parts together thereby simplifying assembly and resulting in amore reliably assembled device.

A still further object is to provide a device wherein tolerance problemsare minimized and the need for grinding parts is eliminated, therebyreducing the costs considerably.

In previous manufacturing of devices of this nature, it was necessary toplate the escutcheon prior to any assembly operations, because thecement used in the assembly operations would otherwise be destructivelyattacked by the acid plating bath if the plating was done subsequent toassembly. In such previous manufacturing, therfore, it was necessary toream or mill the concavity after plating the escutcheon, and theresulting burr was removed still later. These operations removed theplating from the area of the escutcheon around the con- 1 cavity.Further, the paramagnetic chips were attracted to the surface of theescutcheon, and removal of the chips caused scratching of the previouslyplated and lacquered escutcheon surface. This invention performs allpressfitting, soldering, reaming, sanding and polishing prior to theplating and buiiing operations and thus overcomes the disadvantagespointed out above.

' In previously known devices, the bottom washer of the device waspress-fitted to the core. This resulted in a serious problem oftolerances in magnet dimensions, as for example when, as is common, themagnet is warped, thus requiring grinding the surface of the magnet totake up the tolerance. The present invention, however, provides a freelysliding loose fit, allowing the bottom washer to move until it is incontact with the magnet, thus solving this tolerance problem andeliminating the need for grinding. This cuts the cost of the entireassembly nearly in half.

The previously used cylindrical bar magnets, in the prior art devices,require a considerable length to di ameter ratio, In the presentinvention, the provision of a washer-shaped magnet, magnetized acrossits short dimension, results in a large pole area and a short length(height) dimension. This invention thus results in a thinner (shorterheight) device thereby permitting new esthetic designs.

The heretofore mentioned objects and advantages, as well as others, willbecome apparent from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a desk set base article including adevice embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan View or" said device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of said device; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of said device.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a fountain pen desk set basestructure including a base piece 1 sup porting a device which in turnsupports a pen receptacle or bowl 2 having a paramagnetic sphere 3 atthe lower end of the receptacle.

The device, comprising elements 5 through 9, magnetically supports thereceptacle and the pen (not shown) that is placed therein. This magneticsupporting device includes a paramagnetic escutcheon or top plate 4, adiamagnetic tube 5, a paramagnetic cylindrical core 6, a washer-shapedpermanent magnet 7, and a paramagnetic washer 8.

The escutcheon or top plate 4 has an opening 4a therethrough, into whichis fixed the tube 5 as for example by being press-fitted and/or solderedas by a solder joint 9. The core 6 is fixed in the bore of tube 5 by apressfit therein. The tube 5 depends from top plate 4, extending belowthe under surface thereof. The core 6 depends from tube 5, extendingbelow the tube. The upper ends of core 6 and tube 5, and the surroundingpart of top plate 4 are shaped to define a semispherical concavity it)which is complemental to a portion of the sphere A washer-shaped magnet7, magnetized across its short dimension (vertical dimension in FIG. 4),surrounds the core 6 and tube 5, and lies against the underside of plate4, being held thereto solely by magnetic attraction. The bore in thewasher-shaped magnet is large enough to easily slip over core 6 and tube5.

A paramagnetic washer 3, having its bore 8a of such size as to slipeasily over core 6, surrounds core 6 and lies against the underside ofmagnet 7, being held thereto solely by magnetic attraction. The washer,when being placed over the core and on to the magnet, tends to shiftlaterally one way or the other until it contacts the core 6.

There thus is a magnetic circuit established which will magneticallyhold the sphere 3; in socket 10 when the sphere is placed therein. Thecircuit, starting with the magnet, includes the magnet 7, the escutcheonor top plate 4, the sphere 3, the core 6, the washer 8, and back to themagnet 7. The ball or sphere 3 is thus magnetically held in socket it}in whatever position placed. The receptacle 2 can thus be pivotablymoved to and securely held in any of many desired angular positionsrelative to the base, and can be removed therefrom if desired.

The washer-shaped magnet 7, being magnetized across its short dimension,provides a large pole area and a short height (length) and thus permitsa much thinner base design than was possible with the heretofore usedbar magnets which required a considerable ratio of length to diameter.Washer-shaped magnets magnetized across the short dimension thereof areavailable commercially. One such commercially available suitable magnetis sold under the name l'ndox by Indiana Steel Products Company ofValparaiso, Indiana. Another is that sold under the name Ferrimag byCrucible Steel Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The device is made by a method which does not damage the finished outer(upper) side of the escutcheon 4, does not require cementing of partstogether, and does not require grinding of any parts.

The method of making the device is as follows:

The core 6 is press-fitted into tube 5 bringing them flush at one end(the upper end) thereof. The resulting core-tube unit is thenpressfitted and/or soldered into the hole 4a in the plate 4 bringingcore 6, tube 5 and plate 4 flush at their upper ends. The resultingcore-tube-plate unitary structure is then cut, i.e. drilled, bored, orreamed to form the semispherical concavity 1b therein with the center ofthe concavity on the longitudinal axis of the core. A burr around theperiphery of the socket or concavity is raised by the reaming operation,and the plate is then sanded and polished to remove the burr and toprovide a smooth surface. The entire core-tube-plate unitary structureis then plated with a suitable metal such as brass, bronze or gold. Theouter (upper) surface of the escutcheon 4 (top plate) may then belightly buffed to bring out the color of the metal plating material.Next, the entire core-tube-plate unitary structure may be lacquered toprovide protection for the plated-on finish. The socket (concavity it?)is then very lightly reamed to remove the lacquer therefrom, withoutcutting any of the metal from any of the core, tube, or plate. Thewasher-shaped magnet is then placed loosely over the core and tube intocontact with the underside of the top plate 4. Next, the washer 3 isplaced loosely over the core and into contact with the underside of themagnet. This completes the device.

The device so made is ready for use as a support for a pen receptacleand pen, and if desired may further be incorporated into a base piece 1as shown in F168. 1 and 4.

The invention is not limited to the single embodiment described above orto every detail of that embodiment. Other embodiments as Well as the onedescribed, with or without every detail will enjoy the advantages of theinvention and will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and arewithin the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device adapted to magnetically support a desk set writinginstrument receptacle having a holding sphere of paramagnetic materialat one end thereof, said device comprising: a paramagnetic top platehaving an opening therethro-ugh; a diamagnetic tube disposed in saidopening and extending below said plate; a paramagnetic cylindrical coredisposed in the bore of said tube and extending below said tube; theupper end faces of said tube and core and the surrounding portion ofsaid top plate being shaped to define a semi-spherical concavity forreceiving a portion of said holding sphere; a Washershaped permanentmagnet magnetized across its short dimension, said magnet surroundingsaid core and underlying said top plate and attached to said platesolely magnetically; and a paramagnetic washer surrounding said core andunderlying said magnet and attached thereto solely magnetically.

2. A device adapted to magnetically support a desk set pen receptaclehaving a holding sphere of paramagnetic material at one end thereof,said device comprising: a paramagnetic top plate having an openingtherethrough; a diamagnetic tube fixed in said opening and extendingbelow said plate; a paramagnetic cylindrical core fixed in the bore ofsaid tube and extending below said tube; said plate, tube and corethereby forming a unitary structure; the upper end faces of said tubeand said core and the surrounding portion of said top plate being shapedto define a semispherical concavity for receiving a portion of saidholding sphere; a washer-shaped permanent magnet magnetized across itsshort dimension, said magnet surrounding said core and underlying saidtop plate and attached to said plate solely magnetically; and aparamagnetic washer surrounding said core and underlying 7 said magnetand attached thereto solely magnetically.

3. A desk set unit comprising a base piece and a device adapted tomagnetically support a desk set pen receptacle having a holding sphereof paramagnetic material at one end thereof, said base piece supportingvsaid device, said device comprising: a paramagnetic top plate having anopening therethrough; a diamagnetic tube fixed in said opening andextending below said plate; a paramagnetic cylindrical core fixed inbore of said tube and extending below said tube; said plate, tube andcore thereby forming a unitary structure, the upper end faces of saidtube and said core and the surroundins portion of said top plate beingshaped to define a semispherical concavity for receiving a portion ofsaid holding sphere; a Washer-shaped permanent magnet magnetized acrossits short dimension, said magnet surrounding said core and underlyingsaid top plate and attached to said plate solely magnetically; and aparamagnetic washer surrounding said core and underlying said andattached thereto solely magnetically.

4. A device adapted to magnetically support a desk set pen receptaclehaving a holding sphere of paramagnetic material at one end thereof,said device comprising: a paramagnetic top plate having an openingtherethrough; a diamagnetic ring disposed in said opening; aparamagnetic core disposed in the bore of said ring and extending belowsaid ring; the upper end faces of said ring, the core and thesurrounding portion of said top plate being shaped to define asemispherioal concavity for receiving the supporting surface of saidholding sphere; a permanent magnet having an aperture therein insubstantial alignment with the axis along which said magnet ismagnetized, said magnet abutting the bottom of said top plate with saidcore depending into said aperture, and paramagnetic means disposed belowsaid top plate interconnecting said core with said magnet.

5. A device adapted to magnetically support a desk set pen receptaclehaving a holding sphere of paramag netic material at one end thereof,said device comprising: a paramagnetic top plate having an openingtherethrough; a diamagnetic ring press fitted into said opening; aparamagnetic core disposed in the bore of said ring and secured thereto,said core extending below said ring; the upper end faces of said ring,said core and the surrounding portion of said top plate being recessedto define a semispherical concavity for receiving the supporting surfaceof said holding sphere; a washer-shaped permanent magnet ma-gnetized inthe direction of its short dimension, said magnet abutting the bottom ofsaid top plate with said core depending through said aperture, and aparamagnetic Washer abutting the bottom of said magnet andinterconnecting said core with said magnet, said core depending into theaperture in said paramagnetic washer, with the side of said coreengaging said washer.

6. A device adapted to magnetically support a desk set pen receptaclehaving a holding sphere of paramagnetic material at one end thereof,said device comprising: a paramagnetic top plate having a boretherethrough; a diamagnetic sleeve disposed in said bore and attached tosaid top to form a unitary structure; a paramagnetic cylindrical corefixed in the bore of said sleeve; the upper end faces of said sleeve,the core and the surrounding portion of said top plate being shaped todefine a semispherioal concavity conforming to a portion of said spherefor receiving the supporting surface of said holding sphere; a platingon the assembly of said plate, sleeve and core, a lacquer covering theassembly of such plate, sleeve and core except on the surface of saidconcavity, a washer-shaped permanent magnet surrounding said core andsleeve and abutting the under surface of said plate, and a paramagneticwasher disposed over said core and abutting the under surface of saidmagnet.

7. A device adapted to magnetically support a desk set pen receptaclehaving a holding sphere of paramagnetic material at one end thereof,said device comprising: a paramagnetic top member having an openingtherethrough; a diarnagnetic ring disposed in said opening; a solidparamagnetic core disposed in the bore of said ring and extending belowsaid ring; the upper end faces of said ring, the core and thesurrounding portion of said top References @ited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Talbot Nov. 26, 1929 Guyot July 14, 1931Guyot May 24, 1932 Bonnsack Apr. 28, 1942 Hull June 6, 1950

1. A DEVICE ADAPTED TO MAGNETICALLY SUPPORT A DESK SET WRITINGINSTRUMENT RECEPTACLE HAVING A HOLDING SPHERE OF PARAMAGNETIC MATERIALAT ONE END THEREOF, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A PARAMAGNETIC TOP PLATEHAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH; A DIAMAGNETIC TUBE DISPOSED IN SAIDOPENING AND EXTENDING BELOW SAID PLATE; A PARAMAGNETIC CYLINDRICAL COREDISPOSED IN THE BORE OF SAID TUBE AND EXTENDING BELOW SAID TUBE; THEUPPER END FACES OF SAID TUBE AND CORE AND THE SURROUNDING PORTION OFSAID TOP PLATE BEING SHAPED TO DEFINE A SEMI-SPHERICAL CONCAVITY FORRECEIVING A PORTION OF SAID HOLDING SPHERE; A WASHERSHAPED PERMANENTMAGNET MAGNETIZED ACROSS ITS SHORT DIMENSION, SAID MAGNET SURROUNDINGSAID CORE AND UNDERLYING SAID TOP PLATE AND ATTACHED TO SAID PLATESOLELY MAGNETICALLY; AND A PARAMAGNETIC WASHER SURROUNDING SAID CORE ANDUNDERLYING SAID MAGNET AND ATTACHED THERETO SOLELY MAGNETICALLY.